Video shows moment US, Nigerian forces eliminated top ISIS leader in Northeast

The United States Africa Command has released footage of a coordinated military operation in northeastern Nigeria that led to the death of a senior Islamic State leader and several other top figures.

According to a statement by AFRICOM, the strike was carried out on May 16 under the direction of the US President and the Secretary of War, in coordination with the Nigerian government.

The command identified the slain terrorist as Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the director of global operations for ISIS. Multiple other senior ISIS leaders were also killed in the operation. No US service members were harmed.

US Air Force General Dagvin Anderson, commander of AFRICOM, said the mission reflected strong cooperation between both militaries and was made possible through months of coordination. He added that both nations remain committed to relentlessly pursuing and neutralising terrorist threat.

AFRICOM stated that al-Minuki played a key role in ISIS global operations, providing strategic guidance on media, financial activities, weapons development, explosives production, and drone manufacturing. He was also described as a central figure in planning attacks and coordinating hostage-taking operations.

President Bola Tinubu had earlier described the operation as a daring joint operation that inflicted significant losses on ISIS networks in the region.

The release of the footage comes as both countries continue joint counterterrorism operations targeting extremist groups in Nigeria’s northeast and the wider Lake Chad Basin.